Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
WA back to school plan,18 COVID-19 cases

Western Australia has detected 14 locally acquired COVID-19 cases and four infections linked to travellers.

January 25, 2022

Western Australia has reported 14 new local COVID-19 cases and rolled out its back to school plan to keep students safe while learning.

Air purifiers, carbon dioxide monitors, face masks and extra cleaning will help protect students, Premier Mark McGowan says.

Classes resume on Monday with school staff required to have proof of two vaccine jabs followed by a third dose within a month of becoming eligible.

Hand sanitiser will also be made available at schools with students and teachers ordered to physically distance when possible.

“All this contributes to ensure schools will be as safe as possible for students,” Mr McGowan told reporters on Tuesday.

“It also allows for a degree of flexibility with the ability to hold classes in alternative settings.”

Remote learning will be made available for students forced to quarantine, with hard copy learning packs and online lessons.

A “flying squad” of more than 5000 replacement teachers will be available to take the place of staff who become affected by the virus and are unable to work.

Mr McGowan said the health restrictions could be “boosted” if there was a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak in WA.

“We want students, parents and staff to feel confident when class resumes next week,” he said.

It comes as WA’s vaccination rates continue to climb with 96.7 per cent of people aged over 12 given their first dose and 89.5 per cent double dosed.

About 28 per cent of West Australians have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Of the new cases, seven are linked to the growing Bunbury outbreak, about two hours south of Perth.

Health workers are still attempting to determine the source of that cluster. Most of the cases are work colleagues or household contacts and more infections are expected.

There are currently 115 confirmed active cases in WA with clusters also in the Perth suburbs of Coolbellup, Safety Bay and Haynes.

A further case diagnosed in the Busselton-Dunsborough area and another one in the Perth area are unlinked to any clusters.

Two infected people have been admitted to hospital with one in intensive care.

There were also four cases detected among quarantined travellers.

WA reported 13 new local cases on Monday, 24 on Sunday and seven on Saturday.

About 10,000 people were tested for the virus on Monday.

Meanwhile, Mr McGowan said all of WA’s 900 public education facilities had been inspected to check the ventilation and over 12,000 air purifiers had been rolled out to classrooms.

About 1500 classroom CO2 monitors have also been delivered.

School staff and secondary students (year 7 and above) will be required to wear face masks in Perth, the Peel region and the WA’s southwest.

This will be extended to year three and above if the state’s case numbers grow.

Regular school visitors will also need to show proof of double dose vaccination and get a booster when they become eligible.

“But the best thing parents can do in the coming days is to make a booking for their children to get vaccinated,” Mr McGowan said.

“Vaccines are safe and effective and offer the best protection for our children.”

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